Tag Archives: spa

Helsinki Day Spa, Finland

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The sauna culture in Finland indicates that the locals enjoy, and prioritise pampering and relaxing, but there are only a few luxurious spas in Helsinki worth visiting. Helsinki Day Spa was founded in 2005 and was Finland’s first urban spa located in the centre of the city. The spa is housed in the historic Rake building and is carefully designed to calm guests as soon as they walk through the door.

The treatments are effective with a medical focus, the trained therapists will target problems ensuring guests leave feeling healthier and happier. My friend and I both experienced the Quick Fix and Go facial, which takes just 30 minutes but gives your skin a zingy boost. First we were taken up to the first floor, where we were invited to relax in the main lounge. This space is airy and fresh with tropical plants and comfortable chairs covered in blankets. Wrapped in a soft bathrobe I began to drift off before my therapist Annika came over to introduce herself and take me through for the treatment.

The aim of this speedy facial is to energise and soften tired skin and balance out uneven skin tones. The treatment includes cleansing, peel and a face pack. Annika examined my skin and spoke to me about my concerns before selecting a range of Filorga products to use on my face. This French brand is internationally renowned and is known particularly for its cutting edge anti-aging solutions. First my eyebrows were tidied with a little threading and then Annika did some extraction to deep cleanse the oilier areas of my face. The Cleansing Foam was used next, a delicate product to gently remove any dirt, and then Optim Eyes was applied around my eyes helping with puffiness and dark circles. My favourite was the Plumping Moisturising serum which seemed to revive my skin instantly and left it silky soft.

With the harsh weather conditions in Finland it doesn’t take long for skin to get weather worn and lacking in moisture. This quick revitalising facial is the perfect spa solution in the cold winter, taking just 30 minutes and suitable for all skin types it will brighten your mood and complexion.

More information and book a spa treatment here.

Thanks to Visit Helsinki for their help with this trip.

Hotel Julien, Antwerp

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The Julien Hotel is not easy to find. The unassuming exterior offers no indicator of the style conscious rooms inside. It is situated within two historic buildings and has a surprisingly quiet atmosphere considering its central position in Antwerp. This hotel is a trendsetter opening in 2004 as one of the first boutique accommodation options in the city.

There are twenty-one rooms, each unique in its layout and feel, some are more rustic than others. Our room was extremely photogenic, I spent the first fifteen minutes observing every detail and snapping away eager to catch the charm through my lens. With a high ceiling and infinite floor space, the room felt airy and spacious. The original features are kept intact which gives the rooms a touch of tradition, but cutting edge modern amenities and luxuries ensure guests feel pampered.

Little details make this hotel special. Tall windows have chic wooden blinds, a monochrome striped carpet adds pattern to the floor, and the bed is topped with fluffy pillows and soft linen. The bathroom was a haven, clad in grey marble with an oversized bathtub and rainshower and expensive Ren toiletries.

Whimsical modern art adds some colour to the walls. Outside our room I noticed a Michael Wolf photograph depicting a building in downtown Chicago. The clever combination of eclectic art and design features makes Hotel Julien a fascinating place for culture enthusiasts.

Breakfast was a highlight of our stay. Pastries come direct from Domestic – the city’s finest boulangerie. The croissants are light and flaky, buttery and divine… I couldn’t resist a second, and we even paid the bakery a visit to see the place where these magical delicacies are made. Also on offer are sweet fresh juices, jewel like chopped fruit and homemade jams and honey.

Should you need it, Hotel Julien has a glamorous but casual bar which is cosy and perfect for a nightcap, and gorgeous meeting rooms which are blessed with good light and kitted out with essential equipment. The décor is minimalist and design conscious and would inspire creative minds at work.

Hotel Julien is more home than hotel, combining character and style in perfect measure, to create a place you’ll never want to leave.

More information and book a stay here.

Thoroughly Modern Milly travelled to Belgium with Eurostar.

·         Eurostar operates up to 9 daily services from London St Pancras International to Brussels with return fares from £69.

·         Tickets to any Belgium station start from £79.

·         Fastest London-Brussels journey time is 2 hours.

·         Tickets are available from eurostar.com or 03432 186 186.

Four Seasons St Petersburg

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When I heard about the new Four Seasons opening in St Petersburg I knew it was reason enough to visit Russia. The Lion Palace, as it is now known, was built in the 19th century for the royal family in the neoclassical style. The grand main entrance is marked with an eight column portico and guarded by two white marble Medici lions by Italian sculptor Paolo Triscorni. Like many of the Four Seasons hotels, an historic building has been transformed into a luxurious place to stay, eat and relax… embracing its former features and adapting where necessary to ensure guests have everything they could require.

The hotel is located in the Admiralteysky district, close by to the Hermitage Museum, Nevsky Prospekt and Mariinsky Theatre, perfect for tourists hoping to see all the sights. There are 183 guest rooms including 26 suites; we were in a lovely terrace room with a balcony overlooking the magnificent St Isaac Cathedral. The room was subtly decorated in sophisticated shades of cream, brown and pale blue, with a huge plush king sized bed, a dark wooden desk for business needs and an armchair for relaxing. Thick white curtains concealed the cold outdoors. The bathroom was spacious and indulgent, clad in marble with a huge bath, power shower and ‘his and hers’ sinks. The toiletries were of a really good quality and smelt wonderful, coming all the way from Lorenzo Villoresi in Florence.

The food at Lion Palace will satisfy the palates of the prestigious guests and also wow visitors who are not staying at the hotel. We sampled the fine Italian restaurant, Percorso which is headed up by acclaimed chefs Andrea Accordi and Valerio Andrisani who create modern creative Italian dishes. This eatery is impressive especially in comparison to St Petersburg’s other fine dining establishments. We indulged with delicious cheeses, top quality meat dishes and authentic desserts. I can still recall my tender roasted lamb with pumpkin, pecorino, mint and Avola almond.

We also ate in the Tea Lounge where breakfast is served. This gorgeous open plan parlour is decorated in bright pastels – yellow, green and pink. It is the perfect place for a tea party. We tried lots of intriguing Russian specialities here, including the tasty little Sirniki (farmer’s cheese pancakes) made with cottage cheese or ricotta. I can also recommend the French toast dusted with icing sugar and accompanied with caramelised baked apple segments.

For the ultimate relaxation there is the four storey Luceo spa, with a small pool, eight treatment rooms and a VIP couples suite – the talented therapists here look after you from head to toe. We had massages on the final day, a relaxing conclusion to three days of frantic sightseeing! Walking in such cold weather definitely builds up tension in the legs but I felt the knots melt away with the masseur’s skill and warm aromatic oils.

Russia can be a daunting place, and knowing where to start is tricky. Four Seasons St Petersburg will be your guide, your friend and your concierge, guiding you towards the sights which make this city so special. It was a palatial home for us for three days and I breathed a sigh of relief every time I stepped from the cold street into the lovely Lion Palace lobby.

More information and book a room here: www.fourseasons.com/stpetersburg/